'Fall Festival of Community Choirs' Sept. 15-16

The Decorah Chorale hosts the "Fall Festival of Community Choirs" Sept. 15-16, at the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

The choral music event includes performances by four of the finest community choirs in the Midwest: The Ames Choral Society, The Milwaukee Choristers, Sing Omaha and the Decorah Chorale. Guest conductors for the Festival will include Dr. Weston Noble, Dr. Allen Hightower (Luther College), Dr. James Kinchen (U. of Wisconsin/Parkside), Steven Hoifeldt (Ames) and Matt Hill (Omaha).

The two-day event culminates Sunday with a grand festival concert at 1:30 p.m. at First Lutheran, with each choir performing separately, then singing together several selections of inspirational choral literature, especially selected for this event. Each choir also participates in several morning worship services in the Decorah area.

Selections for the 180 voice mass choir include "Lamentations of Jeremiah" by Stroope, "O Lord God" by Tchesnokov and "We Rise Again" by Dubinsky. Weston Noble conducts the concert finale "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" by Gilbert Martin.

Festival accompanist is Clara Byom; festival organist is Dietrich Jessen. Special guest accompanist for "Lamentations of Jeremiah" is Xiao Hu, who also offers piano prelude selections beginning at 1:15 p.m.

Questions regarding the festival may be addressed to Julie Vulk, festival coordinator, or John Bay, Decorah Chorale director.